Job Description

JFF Summer Internship, Center for Career Navigation

Position Location: Chicago, IL (Hybrid)

Apply by: April 14, 2025

About JFF

Jobs for the Future (JFF) drives transformation of the U.S. education and workforce systems to achieve economic advancement for all. Seeing that millions of people are unfairly shut out of quality jobs and the chance for a better life, our goal is to align education, workforce, and employment changemakers toward a shared North Star: By 2033, 75 million people facing systemic barriers to advancement will work in quality jobs.

To achieve that goal, we design solutions, scale best practices, influence policy and action, and invest in innovation. With a staff of more than 300 people across the country working remotely and in offices in Boston (headquarters), Washington, DC, and Oakland, California, we operate at the national, state, and local levels, forging deep partnerships with employers, investors, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and education and workforce development providers to break down barriers and reimagine what’s possible.

We’re on a path of ongoing growth and expanding impact. We have an operating budget of $105 million, and we’re funded by dozens of leading government agencies, foundations, and corporations. Learn more about JFF and join us as we build a future that works—for everyone.

Equal Employment Opportunity at JFF

Inclusion, belonging, and well-being are core to JFF’s North Star and mission, and we seek to invest in and learn from those who represent the communities we serve as it is important to the success of our work and the engagement of our staff members. We aim to cultivate a culture that centers the overall care, well-being, and success of the employee through flexible work hours, balanced workloads, professional development, and career advancement opportunities for all.

About the Center

JFF launched the ASA Center for Career Navigation to mobilize the field around a bold

vision for building the bridge from learning to work for Gen Z. Over the next decade, Gen Z will

enter an evolving workforce with new opportunities and challenges. So, it is more imperative

than ever that they can find, evaluate, finance, secure, and flourish in opportunities that lead to

high-quality jobs they can trust. We believe in the power of building connections between

learners and workers aged 16 - 24, training providers, and employers so that Gen Z can

navigate non-degree and degree pathways and work-based learning opportunities.

By 2030, this Center will realize our vision to impact more than 20 million Gen Z learners,

providing them the tools, access, and experience needed to confidently navigate various

pathways. The Center aims to mobilize the field in youth career navigation and launch a tech

experience that helps young people across the US bridge the education-to-career cliff. The Center’s work will focus on:

1. Engaging JFF’s networks across the learn to work ecosystem
2. Driving thought leadership
3. Building and launching impactful digital marketing campaigns across key stakeholder groups
4. Engaging in advocacy work with federal and state policy

About the Position

Over the course of the internship, interns will gain exposure to JFF’s bold, transformative programs within the Center for Career Navigation by working under the guidance of team members on high-impact projects. Interns will support the Center for Career Navigation’s efforts to engage young people (ages 16-24) in exploring career pathways by creating content, building a youth network in Chicago, and testing a digital career navigation tool.

Interested applicants must be available full-time (40 hours per week), Monday through Friday, for 10 weeks, beginning June 2nd and ending August 8th. This role will be primarily remote, but it will require in-person meetings with JFF staff at a central location in Chicago, visits to schools and/or community centers to support with facilitating workshops, and five (5) hours of in-person professional development opportunities per week. Interns are expected to be available for the duration of the 10-week period. Interns must have internet access, and JFF may provide a company-owned laptop for the duration of the internship program if needed.

The pay rate for this summer internship is $17.50 per hour, in alignment to JFF’s grant partnership with Origami.

What You'll Do

We recognize that each intern brings unique strengths, interests, and career goals. While the activities below outline potential projects, we will work with each intern to customize their experience based on their skills, learning objectives, and professional aspirations.

Content Development for Career Navigation Resources

• Collaborate with our marketing team to create engaging, youth-friendly content that helps young people navigate career decisions.
• Develop mixed-media content (written articles, social media posts, short videos, interactive tools) focused on choosing between a degree program, non-degree training, or entering the workforce.
• Work with marketing professionals from Jobs for the Future (JFF) to refine messaging and storytelling approaches tailored to a Gen Z audience.
• Conduct research and interview stakeholders.

Establishing a Chicago Youth Network for Career Navigation

• Support the development of a youth-centered career navigation network in Chicago.
• In partnership with the CCN team, design and facilitate two career navigation workshops for high school students participating in summer programs.

User Testing for Digital Career Navigation Tools

• Participate in the development of a free digital career navigation product, gathering youth feedback to improve its design and functionality.
• Facilitate focus groups with high school students to understand what features they need in a career navigation app.
• Provide critical input to ensure the product meets the needs of young users making career decisions.

Who You Are

The qualifications listed within the job description are intended as a guide and we do not expect candidates to bring all experiences and skills listed. Research supports that self-selecting out of potential professional opportunities is particularly common among individuals with identities that are marginalized in professional spaces. So, if you believe that you can meet the overall expectations of the position, we encourage you to apply so that we have an opportunity to learn more about you and the unique strengths you would bring to the work.

• You are currently a first-generation college undergraduate student with an interest in career navigation, education, workforce development, marketing, product management, or digital content creation
• You are comfortable engaging with diverse groups of young people—whether through mentoring, student leadership, tutoring, or community outreach
• You enjoy facilitating discussions, sharing ideas, and making connections
• You bring strong storytelling and content development skills, whether through writing, social media, video production, or interactive media. Prior experience creating youth-friendly content is a plus!
• You are curious, adaptable, and eager to test and improve digital tools that support career decision-making
• You possess high energy and passion for JFF’s mission and North Star, and the ability to apply JFF’s core values to all areas of your work
• You are energized by stewarding JFF’s inclusion, belonging, and well-being values and practices within your day-to-day work, including embracing and celebrating the differences that each individual brings to JFF
• You value building positive and collaborative relationships with others, including people whose identities and backgrounds differ from your own
• You are based in or near Chicago, IL and are able to meet the in-person requirements of this internship

To Apply

As part of your application, please include your resume and a thoughtful cover letter, addressed to Jeff Bulanda, Vice President, ASA Center for Career Navigation, outlining how your skills and experience meet the qualifications of the position.

We are accepting applications through April 14, 2025, at 5:00pm ET. Applications will be reviewed and candidates will receive updates on their candidacy by the week of April 21, 2025.

At JFF, we’re also committed to accessibility and want to ensure that everyone, including people with disabilities, can fully access and engage with our application and hiring process. If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability and/or have specific access/accommodation needs in order to fully participate in our hiring process, please contact us at hiringaccommodations@jff.org.

Positions at JFF are not eligible for employer-visa sponsorship or open to F-1 student visa holders.

Job Tags

Hourly pay, Full time, Summer work, Internship, Local area, Remote job, Flexible hours, Monday to Friday,

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